Question About Glutamine from a 15 year old

I am currently taking glutamine before bed on an empty stomach thinking it would raise growth hormone and could actually help me grow. I;m still growing, I;m 5'7 140. You said in one of your posts that it boosts growth hormone but it reduced IGF-1 and as far as I know IGF-1 is important for growth. I stopped taking it after reading this. Could this in effect hinder my growth. And also where did u get this ingormation. Other people's advice would be appreciated too, thanks.

although I do not condone use of anabolics for a 15 year old at all, here is a tidbit of information:

Sphinx Height Growth Theory
The following is backed up with over 350 scientific studies.

Purpose -

To research the possible applications of Long Chain R3 IGF-1, Insulin, Oxandrolone, Letrozole and a high protein diet to assist in cosmetic height increase and bone growth in adolescents.

Substance Application Theories -

Long Chain Human Recombinant Insulin-like Growth Factor 1:
This compound is the base of my entire theory and is a truly amazing compound. The role of IGF-1 in this theory is to provide the stimulation and the basic hormonal requirments for bone growth. The long chain form will be spoken of, as it offers the advantage of a longer half life. Theoretically by giving the body levels of IGF-1 beyond its natural levels, the body will be encouraged to further increase its bone growth. Also, the elevated IGF-1 levels have the ability to signal the body to induce more bone growth than was genetically mapped.

Insulin:
Insulin has no direct impact on bone development as far as ive researched. However, using it while using IGF-1 will increase the half life of the IGF-1, and yield even better results.

Oxandrolone:
Another important factor is Oxandrolone. The role of Anavar in this theory is to accelerate the bone growth. This would lead to quicker results, and even enhance the overall results. It is a well established fact that steroids cause accelerated bone growth. The aromatising of steroids results in increased excess of estrogen levels, which in adolescents whose growth plates are still open, results in a breif acceleration of bone growth followed by complete, permanent growth plate closure. Once the growth plates are closed, further long bone growth (the bones responsible for height) is impossible. Oxandrolone is one of the very few steroids that has very little to no aromatising. One problem is still encountered with Oxandrolone shown in scientific studies of its use in adolescent height growth. It speeds up the maturing of bones. This has a similar, yet less severe, effect to excess estrogen in causing a shorter period of growth. It is not a premature closing of the growth plates, it is a sped up maturing of the actual growth plates themselves growth cycle. To counteract this, as well as excess estrogen levels possibly caused by Oxandrolone (as well as natural estrogen levels), one could theoretically use a high quality anti-estrogen such as Letrozole.

Letrozole:
As pointed out above, Letrozole seems like another important factor. In this theory Letrozole would prevent estrogen considerably, allowing the bones to grow with less restrictions. Also, Letrozole as well as other anti-estrogens have been shown to decrease the speed of bone maturing. By using Letrozole, an adolescents rate of bone maturing would slow down, allowing a longer growth period, resulting in an increased final height. This would fight against the accelerated bone maturing side effect of Oxandrolone, furthering results.

High Protein diet:
Diet should not be overlooked in this theory. Diet plays perhaps the most important role of all of this. A diet high in protein has been shown to assist in better bone formation, and even keep growth plates open longer. Not to mention its positive effects on natural IGF-1 levels, and just about everything else. Having a proper diet in place, one high in quality protein with essential as well as non essenital amino acids, would provide the body with everything needed to accomplish the actual task of bone growth. Without the proper diet, no amount of any drugs/hormones would be able to fully complete the task of bone growth.

Laymans Terms -

If you dont understand the more technical explanation, lets look at the theory like this. Imagine IGF-1 as the captain of a boat, the ocean he has to cross is your goal for height growth. Alone, the captain can get his boat across the ocean, however its a much more challenging and longer process. To get the most from the captain, we provide him with lots of caffeine and nootropics to keep him awake, alert, and cruising for longer periods of time (this represents Insulins role). However, he is still on the journey by himself. To make it easier on the captain, we put his first mate and mechanic Oxandrolone on the journey with him. Oxandrolone keeps the engine in top shape, and uses exotic fuels ensuring the journey goes as fast as possible. The problem is, Oxandrolone is a bit of a prick, he pressures the captain (whose already working at his limit) to stay up even longer. This would eventually tire out the captain to the point of complete exhuastion, he could no longer drive his boat and the journey would be a failure. To prevent this, we put health specialist Letrozole on the journey. He makes sure the captain gets the sleep he needs, and prevents Oxandrolone from stressing and over exhuasting the captain. The entire journey would never be possible even with the presence of all three of these pioneers if it were not for the boat to drive. A high protein diet is the best boat at the marina, its the fastest, most reliable, and toughest. It has all the tools, fuels, and equipment needed to make the journey, it just needs the crew.

Conclusion -

Based on my research, the idea of substantial height growth to and beyond genetic, nutritional and hormonal predispositions of an adolescent with the use of Long Chain Human Recombinant Insulin-like Growth Factor 1, Insulin, Oxandrolone, Letrozole and a high protein diet seems entirely possible. Infact, I am so confident and intrigued by my theory, that I will be the first to put it to the test in all its entirety. When the time comes I will prepare and record a journal of my experiences right here on Muscle Nexus. I will have bi-weekly bone examinations by my doctor, as well as estrogen, testesterone and IGF-1 blood level testings. All will be recorded in the journal as well as height grown, weight gained, dosages used, diet, workouts (excercises, sets, reps, rest periods) and side effects both physical and psychological.

Originally posted by bodychemistry I am currently taking glutamine before bed on an empty stomach thinking it would raise growth hormone and could actually help me grow. I;m still growing, I;m 5'7 140. You said in one of your posts that it boosts growth hormone but it reduced IGF-1 and as far as I know IGF-1 is important for growth. I stopped taking it after reading this. Could this in effect hinder my growth. And also where did u get this ingormation. Other people's advice would be appreciated too, thanks.

YellowJacket was completely in left field on the Glutamine issue. Whether it will raise your growth hormone level is a matter of speculation. It can't hurt, and it does NOT reduce IGF-1. It cannot hinder, and very possibly, will help your growth. If you take it before bed, best to stir it right in a high casein content protein shake, like Optimum Complete Protein Diet.

It's major benefit, as far as I am concerned, is its ability to prevent soft tissue injury. I only use it on workout days, and you have to use nearly 40 gms to see major results, as much of it ends up in the gut. If you can afford it, I would highly recommend Glutamine supplementation. But at 15, it is certainly not an indespensible supp.

woops, knew john would beat me to this one ...well... yeah... I mean if people can and do take 40g/d and see kickass results (not in the form of enhanced "growth" that you're looking for though bodychem), then absolutely more power to them... I however, am a freak that creatine and glutamine absolutely refuse to work for, and so my take would be slightly different... and you should not worry about what would be, for you, secondary supps until you've put in some serious time with the good old basic FOOD supp... remember also that, at 15, you have a good 10 years of potential growth left in you, so no worries, concentrate on good calories right now and you'll do perfectly well

With or without YJ I still feel it's only benificial when in a caloric deficit when muscle wasting is more likely. I eat so much protein that there's just no way I deplete glutamine levels enough to justify it's use while bulking, IMHO. Oh, and it won't help or hinder growth as far as height is concerned. The GH rise is generally only experienced post workout I believe, which can also be achieved with a CHO pw shake.

If your main concern is glutamine's effect on IGF-1 levels and how that may effect your growth, well...........you're micromanaging your supps. Glutamine's role in IGF-1 (be it supressed or enhanced) isn't significant enough to cause a worry as to whether or not to use it. It looks like what you're worried about is growing (esp taller I gather), and glutamine sure as hell won't stop that.